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Dueling graduated income tax press releases

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Illinois

* Posted in the order they were received. ILGOP…

Today, Governor Pritzker used his time during his daily Coronavirus briefing to publicly campaign and advocate for the progressive income tax ballot question in November. ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response:

“It seems Governor Pritzker has taken Rahm Emannuel’s “never let a crisis go to waste” adage to heart. With a global pandemic that has plunged the state’s economy to depths not seen since the Great Depression, this is the worst possible time to push through a tax hike that will crush small businesses who provide so many of our jobs. Pritzker using a Coronavirus briefing to campaign for the progressive income tax is inappropriate and unfortunate.”

* And Vote Yes for Fairness…

Vote Yes For Fairness Chairman Quentin Fulks released the following statement on the revised budget projections Governor Pritzker announced this afternoon, showing a $6.2 billion budget shortfall in FY2021, which would increase to $7.4 billion if the Fair Tax does not pass:

“While there is still so much uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus and its impact on our state, Governor Pritzker’s announcement today makes clear that there are serious financial challenges that need to be addressed. That’s why passing the Fair Tax in November is needed now more than ever. Without the Fair Tax, the budget shortfall in fiscal year 2021 would be even greater, making it more difficult to get our state back on track.”

“Coronavirus has impacted nearly every facet of our state, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for a tax system that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest Illinoisans. Our current tax system is outdated and fundamentally unfair, burdening the middle and lower-income families who are suffering most from this crisis. The Fair Tax will set this right, while ensuring 97% of Illinoisans see no tax increase or receive a tax cut.

“Vote Yes For Fairness remains committed to fighting with our working families, our small businesses, and our communities across the state to pass the Fair Tax in November.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 4:43 pm

Comments

Everyone has their own priorities

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 4:49 pm
=== Our current tax system is outdated and fundamentally unfair, burdening the middle and lower-income families who are suffering most from this crisis. The Fair Tax will set this right, while ensuring 97% of Illinoisans see no tax increase or receive a tax cut.===

This is the wall the ILGOP will find tough to knock down.

It’s easy to see, except to the blind.

There’s no retort to this.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 4:53 pm
==Without the Fair Tax, the budget shortfall in fiscal year 2021 would be even greater==

We’re still $6.2 billion short, Quentin. The Fair Tax barely makes a dent.

==Our current tax system is outdated and fundamentally unfair, burdening the middle and lower-income families==

That burden remains under the fair tax.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 4:55 pm
==That burden remains under the fair tax==

As opposed to the burden increasing on everyone without it. So, there’s that.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:00 pm
Mail in ballots will be pushed through and added to the election code. This will guarantee the progressive income tax passes.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:13 pm
OW: There is always a retort to everything in Illinois politics. The other side will argue it just doesn’t tax the rich. It will tax you too. It is going to be real hard to pass.

Comment by me Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:18 pm
==As opposed to the burden increasing==

So you agree there’s a burden.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:22 pm
Fair Tax opponents will say and do anything to preserve the sweet deal that rich people have always had in this state. The Fair Tax gives a cut to anyone making less a quarter-million dollars a year. If you’re concerned about people struggling due to the pandemic crisis, then you believe there’s more people who need that money in their pocket even more now. So Pritzker’s right — now more than ever, yes for fair tax.

Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:22 pm
=== There is always a retort to everything in Illinois politics.===

Like the “millionaire tax”?

=== The other side will argue it just doesn’t tax the rich. It will tax you too.===

Yeah, bout that. They have no cash right now to keep up with Gov. Pritzker’s cash, pandemic or not.

=== It is going to be real hard to pass.===

Last time polling occurred, the CA was within the window of passage, even without using the margin of error.

*Any* CA is difficult to pass, but…

=== Our current tax system is outdated and fundamentally unfair, burdening the middle and lower-income families who are suffering most from this crisis. The Fair Tax will set this right, while ensuring 97% of Illinoisans see no tax increase or receive a tax cut.===

… that’s true.

Ignoring that truth is why there’s no answer. They won’t be addressing the question, “am I voting to save the rich?”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:24 pm
If JB wants to pass his latest tax, he should modify it to also apply to income from trust funds in the Caribbean that is currently exempt from ALL Illinois taxes–why wouldn’t that be fair?

Comment by t Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:24 pm
=== So you agree there’s a burden.===

If you pay $1, that’s a burden.

What other silliness do you have today?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:25 pm
Governor Pritzker has to walk a political tight rope.

No one could have foreseen the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but J.B. overreacted at times and went all in on the earliest medical models which have been revised significantly.

While he has not gone as far as Whitmer, the extremist governor of Michigan, the day will come when Illinois has to reopen for business.

Other governors are already making plans to reopen businesses in their states. Illinois is in a predicament because it was not in a good position to address this public health crisis to begin with. My own read is that with an international airport and more business travelers, Chicago and its neighbors were bound to be hit harder.

Some governors are going to come out of this with their reputations enhanced. Pritzker has an extremely difficult balancing act in front of him.

After so many have lost one month’s income, I am not positive that these persons will voluntarily increase tax rates in November.

Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:31 pm
=== After so many have lost one month’s income, I am not positive that these persons will voluntarily increase tax rates in November.===

The 3% aren’t being hit the same as the 97%, economically and medically.

So… you want that argument, the proponents will like that argument. A lot.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:39 pm
Other than raise taxes, what other choices does the governor have? State funds does not grow on trees. Y’all should know by now that the president is not going to help IL.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:41 pm
Mama, the Federal goverment will be helping all the States in the near future, there is no alternative.

Comment by Just A Dude Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:48 pm
So does Tim Schneider deliver that same message to the White House? Asking for a friend

Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 5:59 pm
We don’t have a revenue crisis now, and the governor’s not supposed to come up with a plan to deal with it? What’s the plan, ILGOP and anti-tax crowd, slash those who can less afford it, much less in the case of the poorest?

“tax hike that will crush small businesses”

It’s indefensible to protect the wealthiest at all costs, especially now that we need the revenue the most, so the ILGOP has to keep up with the usual lies. Surprised they didn’t also say it will crush the middle class.

Those paying more would have to earn $250,001 and above, far above what’s considered middle class. Two-thirds of Illinois companies don’t pay state income taxes. Republicans, the IPI and others are trying to make us think that huge multi-state and international corporations are small businesses.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 6:07 pm
Pritzker’s generally good performance is undermining the GOP’s best argument against the tax hike. The GOP needs to make enough of the oh, 40-96% to believe they’ll be hit next AND that the extra money is squandered on wasteful government spending, bloated payrolls and pensions, etc. When they see the best of government in action, it blunts the GOP’s message.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 6:11 pm
For the love of God GOP, the Gov. mentioned what the budget shortfall would be in FY ‘21 with and without the Fair Tax. That’s all he broached. If he hadn’t wnen discussing the financial impact to the state of a public health crisis, you’d be complaining he was hiding information.

Then, Mary Ann asked him the question. He answered with what he thought, “now more than ever.” If he dodged the question or declined to answer, you wouldn’t like that either.

Just stop while you’re behind.

Comment by Lt Guv Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 6:29 pm
===J.B. overreacted at times===

No. JB did not overreact, not even considering what hindsight is telling us.

Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 6:30 pm
Now that the debt will explode with the decrease in taxes and increase in spending in the coming months the crisis will force that the range that will see their taxes increase will drop from the $250,000 quicker than anticipated as anyone with common sense realized from the beginning that the formula would not cover expenses in the coming years and that the rate would be going up for far more than the 3% that they are trying to sell this tax increase too. Without any type of plan to curb pension expenses going forward and with the loss in it caused by this pandemic that is even more tax dollars they will need to come up with at the State level and in Chicago.

Comment by Arock Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 6:52 pm
The ILGOP wants to raise taxes on everyone to protect millionaires. That’s the only way to interpret this.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:10 pm
= J.B. overreacted at times and went all in on the earliest medical models which have been revised significantly.=

Well I’m for one am grateful that he didn’t under react. But that’s just me. When doctors and scientists speak I tend to trust them over my gut.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:17 pm
Without the fair tax there will be a huge deficit. What an ignorant and disingenuous statement. Without a tax increase or spending cuts or both there will be a huge deficit. Much more accurate. The unfair tax is not the sole path to balance the budget. As a 56 percenter (see comments above) I prefer a flat tax increase and spending adjustments, since I will be next under the progressive tax to pay more anyway. And I would not have to wait a year for the increase, despite Willy’s protestations to the contrary.

Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:38 pm
=== And I would not have to wait a year for the increase, despite … protestations to the contrary.===

(Sigh)

If the CA fails, everyone’s taxes will go up.

That will be the closing argument.

You know this already.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:41 pm
===I prefer a flat tax increase and spending adjustments, since I will be next under the progressive tax to pay more anyway===

Only the 3% will see a tax increase.

Again, you already know this part too.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:44 pm
“J.B. overreacted at times and went all in on the earliest medical models which have been revised significantly.”
What was he supposed to do? Wait for the Feds? If he had waited people would be screaming about under reaction. Illinois has a large population base and a massive transportation system that moves people in/out/around the state. This could be New York. How do you prep for something this big? Having a massive supply storage would have people complaining on the cost of storing out of date supplies for no reason until it is needed. Now that need is here on a huge scale. It is a national cluster that demands cooperation between the locals/states/Feds at all levels.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 7:52 pm
Only the 3% will see a tax increase

The problem is, many people don’t believe that. I’m not against the tax. I just think the lack of trust in the Illinois government is much greater than people realize.

Comment by Southern Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 8:37 pm
=== The problem is, many people don’t believe that.===

Polling says otherwise. It’s well within the passable range, but it’s not a lock.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 8:38 pm
I think it really comes down to a tax on me or a tax on anybody but me. But messaging is the ballgame.

One thing for sure is that given current events it will be a lot harder to argue that a tax increase isn’t needed. But I’m sure there will be those that try.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Apr 15, 20 @ 9:24 pm
===The problem is, many people don’t believe that. I’m not against the tax. I just think the lack of trust in the Illinois government is much greater than people realize.===

Agreed. Maybe it’s being a part of downstate, but the skepticism of anything the State does is strong out here, regardless of party. Perhaps it’s not a big enough number to overcome Chicagoland, but it’s a totally different world 50 miles outside the metros. You’re not going to convince a lot of downstate cynics, even if it’s advertised in their favor, simply because of the level of distrust.

Comment by Shemp Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 1:26 am
=== You’re not going to convince a lot of downstate cynics, even if it’s advertised in their favor, simply because of the level of distrust.===
Well they can read about it, they don’t have to take Pritzker’s word for it.
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2019/Pritzkers-Fair-Tax-Is-a-Sweet-Deal-for-Southern-Illinois/

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 7:21 am
Call it a tax on Chicago Democrat Millionaires. That ought to do the trick.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 7:41 am
“part of downstate, but the skepticism of anything the State does”

Agreed. Yet so many of downstaters flock to state jobs.

Comment by efudd Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 8:05 am
Pundent-

The genius of that is in it’s simplicity.

Comment by efudd Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 8:06 am
The fair tax rates will by changed by the legislature to raise taxes on middle class the minute this passes.

Comment by White Power Ranger Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 8:09 am
=== The fair tax rates will by changed by the legislature to raise taxes on middle class the minute this passes.===

But save the 3% first?

Good times…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 8:11 am
There’s no reason to think the middle class will immediately get a tax hike after the graduated income tax passes. History dictates otherwise. States don’t raise taxes willy-nilly. We had a very hard time raising taxes, even with Democrats in all branches. We let the 2011 tax hike sunset. It took two years of no budgets and brutal cuts to pass another tax hike.

There is reason to think we would get another flat tax hike if it doesn’t pass. But those crying crocodile tears for the middle class when it’s the richest who would be taxed more with
with a graduated tax are silent on this.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Apr 16, 20 @ 8:54 am